Salmonella Outbreak in Ontario
Salmonella Oranienberg Outbreak In Ontario
August 14, 2010 3:00 PM
25 Cases Reported Since Late July
Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Arlene King, is advising the public that there is an outbreak of Salmonella Oranienberg in the province.
Salmonella Oranienberg is a rare form of Salmonella that causes acute intestinal infection in humans.
Since late July, a total of 25 cases of Salmonella Oranienberg have been identified in Ontario. In a typical month, Ontario sees three cases of Salmonella Oranienberg.
Twelve cases have an identical genetic fingerprint and results are pending for the remaining 13 cases. A large proportion of cases are young adult males in their 20s. Cases are clustered in the Greater Toronto Area. The source of the outbreak is not known at this time although the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care is aware of a Canadian Food Inspection Agency warning about green onions in Toronto.
The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care is investigating the outbreak in conjunction with local health units, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
The increase in Salmonella cases has prompted Dr. King to remind Ontarians about the importance of properly handling and preparing food.
QUICK FACTS
- Symptoms of salmonellosis may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever.
- Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in some people, such as children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems.
- Symptoms of salmonellosis generally occur within 6 to 72 hours after exposure to contaminated food and may last 2 to 5 days.
